Submersible toy



E. MOLLOY.

SUBMERSI'BLE -TOY.

"APPLICATION mw mns. 192|.

1,396,650, Patented NOV. 8, 1921.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. MoLLoY.

SUBMERSIBLE TOY.

APPLlcAlou min APR. a, 1921.

1,396,650. Patented Nov. 8, 192L E. MOLLOY.

SUBMERSIBLE TOY.

APPLICATION mw APR. 6. 192|.

1,396,650. Patented Nov. s, 41921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,i HMI/aid alla UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD MOLLOY, or OLAPHAM ooitniroN,` LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'ro CYRIL y y FELLS STAOEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SUBMERSIBLE moy.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:Patented Nov. s, 1921.

application anni` April e, 1921. ,serial No. 453,971.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MOLLOY, a subject of the King of England, residing at Clapham Common, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submersible Toys, (for which I have filed applicationiin Great Britain Jan.

20, 1920, No. 1775/20), Ofwhich the followman actuation of the latter. Preferably the rising of the toy to the surface is 'arranged to take place ata considerable, O1' at any rate an appreciable, time after snbmersion and, according to another feature of the invention, this is effected by arranging the said means to comprise a `rubber orlikecollapsible part which is first deformed and then is permittedslowly to return to its normal shape by causing air or water in proximity to the saidpart to flow through a restricted plug.

passage.` In a preferred form, the variation in displacement 1is regulated bythe `percolation of the Huid through a chalk or like The Itoy may be provided with propelling means, such as a spring-controlled fiap or flaps, which are automatically per mitted to operatethrcugh the variation in Other features of the invent-ion will appear from the following description, reference being made tO the accompanying drawings of twoeinbodiments of the invention as applied toa toy submarine.4 It is, however-,to be understood that the invention may be 'variously arranged and applied to Otherf submersible toys without departing from its spirit and scope(` y 1" l In the drawings 1 Figure 1 is a sid-e elevation of one embodiment of the invention as applied to a toy submarine; i

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 in Fig. l;

Fig' is a rear elevation;

Fig. (3 is an. inverted sectional plan On the line 6 6 in Fig. l;

Figs. `7-1() are detail views referred to later;

F ig.. 11 is a side elevation of a second `embodiment of the invention also as applied to a toy submarine; 1

Fig. 12 is a plan thereof;

Figrl is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 13-13 in Fig. 11;

i Iig.` 14 is a detail View referred to later, anc i Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line 15-'15 in Fig. 11, omitting the bulb and the periscope.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1-10, the submarine hull is made of" tin-plate, and is of uniform section except atn the bow and stern. As illustrated in Figs. 3-5, such section is Octagonal, the faces of the Octagon being designated 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, l2 (Fig.` 4). The upper face 5 has "secured to it an inverted channel 14e bent up from a sheet of tin-plate so as to form a lnarrow deck having a pointed end l5 toward the stern and supporting the conning tower 16. The upper middle section and stern of the hull are cut from one piece of tin-plate as shown in Fig. 10, the faces 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 being indicatedin that figure. It will be seen that the stern end Ofthat `piece is shaped so that when the piece is bent up, the faces 2 and 8 are extended and curved inward (Figs. 2 and 5) to meet at the stern. The two faces 3 and 7 are cut at their stern ends to a curved taper as shown at 17 and 18 (Fig. 101) so that these tapered ends can be bent inward and downward as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, to meet the faces 2, 8 and 5, the face 5 being prolonged at 19 and bent downward to `join the top edges of the `faces 2 and 8. The meeting edges are joined togetherin any suitable manner. The faces 9, l1 and 12 are cut from one piece Of tin-plate terminating at its forward end at the line 21, and at its rear end at the line 22 (Figs. 1 and 2), thus on the water.

28 and 29A connect with the-channel 14 conleaving at the ,stern an opening'23f(Fig. 5) by which water can easily gain access to the inside of the hull when the boat is placed The bow is formed from one piece of tin-plate cut out to the outline shown in Fig. l9 and bent up to the shape shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the various panels 24-33 having the same reference numbers in all these figures. p

It will be seen that by cutting V-shaped parts 34 out from the rear edge of the bow plate, the panels or flats 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33 are made to curve or merge into the parallel faces12, 2, 3, 5, 7,. 8, 9, V11 of the central portion of the hull. Thepanels 27,

stituting the deck. An opening 36 (Figs. 3 and 9) is made under the bow and holes 37, 38 and 39 are formed in the deck and stern' to facilitate water entering the hull when the boat is placed on the water, the

vair in the hull then escaping by the holes 37,

38 and39.

An air reservoir 40 is formed in the upper `part of the center of the hull by soldering in a horizontal partition 41 having upt-urned ends 42. A diamond-shaped open- 'ing (see Fig. 6) is cut in the partition 41,

yedges meet so that the air in the reservoir is confined therein but is in communication withthe bulb 49. A rod 52 representing the periscope passes down through an easyfitting hole in a horizontal deck-plate 53 of the conningtower and through a similar i hole in the channel 14 (Fig. 4), also through a, tube 54' (Figs. `7 and 8) passing through the reservoir. yThis-tube is, soldered vinto a hole 55 (Fig. 10) in the face 5 and into the pyramids 46 and 47. A button 56 on the lower end of the rod bears on the bulb 49. A rubber flap .valve is provided to allow water readily to enter the chamber 48, but

lthe water can escape only through the small Y clearance between the periscope rod and the tube 54. This valve consists of va piece of sheet rubber 57 secured at one end inside the pyramid 47 by a split rivet 58 so that its other end covers a hole 59 in that pyramid. A small ballast weight 50 is fixed to the underside of Ithe hull, and is of just suilicient weight to keep the face 5 level with the surface of the water when the bulb 49 is fully expanded.

In use, the periscope rod 52 is depressed to flatten out the'bulb 49, and the rod is held `depressed while thesubmarine rests in the water, until the hull (except for the reserair pressure in the reservoir and the tendency of the air to return to the bulb of course tends to expand the latter, but it can only do so by forcing out the water in the chamber 48. The water can only escape very slowly around the periscope through the small clearance in the tube 54.

When therefore the toy is released, it sinks because its weight is sufficient to cause this when the bulb is collapsed. The toy remains submerged while the bulb is slowly expanding and rises when expansion is nearing completion. rlhe parts are made light enough for the conning tower and deck work to stand out of the water when the toy floats with the bulb fully expanded.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 11 to 14 which is preferred because of its simple construction, the air reservoir .60 is formed by soldering in a tin plate partition bent about transverse horizontal lines 61, 62, 64*, 65*, 661, 67*, 68:5, to form [iat faces 61 to 69. As explained in cozmection with the earlier construction, the faces 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 of the upper metal section of the hollow hull are bent up out of one portion of tin plate. The faces 61 and 69 are soldered at their top edges to the face 5, and at their side edges to the faces 3 and 7, and 2 and 8. The substantially horizontal faces 62 and 68, and the substantially vertical faces 63 and 67, are soldered at their .side edges to the faces 2 and 8. The inclined faces 64 and 66, and the horizontal face 65, are soldered at their side edges to the faces 3 and 7. The rubber bulb 70 is connected with a metal tube 71 (Figs. 11 and 14) soldered into a hole made in the face 67 midway between its side edges. The periscope rod 72 passes down through the tube 73 (Fig. 13) which is soldered in between the faces 5 and 65. This tube is considerably larger in diameter than the rod which has secured to its lower end the button 74.

A chalk or other porous plug 7 5 is sealed into the rear end of the tube 71 in the position indicated at 76. A lateral hole 77 is made in the tube 71 just in front of the position occupied by the chalk plug. The hole is covered by a thin rubber band 7 S surrounding the tube 71 and in slight tension. The band thus forms a valve allowing air to escape easily out of the tube 71 into the reservoir 60 but not to return. Fig. 14 shows the plug 75 and band 78 detached from the tube 73.

In' use, the periscope is pressed down to flatten out the bulb and squeeze the air out of the bulb into the reservoir through `the valve hole 77. The air can only get back into the bulb by percolating slowly through the chalk plug 7 5, `consequently when the boat is placed on `the water, `it quickly sinks because the bulb is still collapsed. After a considerable time interval (say two to five minutes, according to the length and eifective diameter of the chalk plug) the bulb expands suiliciently to cause the periscope to appear above the `surface of the water. By the time expansion is complete, the conning tower and deckwork stand out of the water, as in the previou construction. i

i To make the boat more interesting, it may be made to propel itself forward, preferably just as itis emerging out of the water. This is effected by providing on each side of the hull a pair of earsS() carrying a pivotpin 81 forming a` hinge i'or a wing or Hap 82, the two flaps being of similar construction. The flaps are normally held pointing` rearward as shown, by elastic `band 83 passing above a ledge Salonthe stern and 'fastened to studs 85 depending from the flaps. The latter are made of tinplate flanged `at the edge, the vertical plane in which the tin-plate lies being indicated at 79 in Fig. 12. A `bent metal strip 8G is` cranked as `shown in Fig. 13 so that its middle portion passes over the button '74; and has a hole `87 through which the periscope rod 72 passes loosely. The ends of the` strip have notches 88 and project through vertical `slots 89 in the side faces of the hull. Thus hooked ends 90 pro ject laterally from the hull.` 'Each flap 82 `has cut in it a hole91 leaving a ledge 92.

ln operation, before the periscope is pressed down the flaps 82 are t'olded forward and held in the dotted position shown in Fig. 12 the hooked [ends 90 thenprojecting into the wide upper ends ofzthe holes 91 inthe flaps,` When the periscope 'is forced down, the strip 86 falls until vthe` shank-s 93 of the hooked ends rest on the bottom edges 94. of the holes` in the flaps. "The hooked ends 90 therefore catch against the ledges 92 and retain the flaps in their .forward position. o H

'When the bulb 70 is expanding and the boat Arising to the surface, the bulb slowly pushes up thebutton 74 until the latter comes `up against the underside of the strip 86. The final expansion of the bulb then further pushes up the button and strip, thus lifting the hooked ends 90 oft vthe ledges`92 and permitting the elastic bandBB to swing the flapsrearward.` This movement of the flaps pushes the toy forward and `its momentum carries 1t some distance in the water.

bination a An advantage of the above construction is that, apart from the soldering in of the air reservoir 60 and tubes 71 and 73, any joints in therest of the hull need not be watertight. Further, as the hull (except for the reservoir) is Hooded, quite a small `ballast Weight in comparison with the size of the toy suices to cause submersion. This makes the boat light and economizes lead. The method of folding up the cut-out pieces of `tin-plate to form the hull obviates the need for bulging the sheet in machine presses.

What I claim'as myinvention and desire to secure by Letterslatent is 1. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, buoyancy-producing means carried by said casing, and means operable by human agency for overcomingthe `buoyancy produced thereby and thus pern mitting the `toy to sink, said buoyancyproducing means including a member carried by the casing and, after the last named means have operated, automatically changing in size without further human actuation or' the toy to vary the efective displacement of the toy and cause the toy entirely by its own automatic action to rise again.

2. A submersible toy comprising in comcasing, buoyancy producing means carried by said casing, and means operable by human agency for lessening at will the buoyancy produced thereby and thus permitting the toy `to sink, said buoyancy-producin'g means including a member carried by the casing and, after the last named means have operated, automatically changing in shape without further human actuation of the toy to restore the buoyancy and cause the toy to rise again entirely by its own automatic action.

3. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, buoyancy-producing meanscarried by said casing, and means operable by human agency for discontinuing a sufficiently large proportion of the buoyancy produced thereby to permit the toy to sink, said buoyancy producing means including` a member carried by the casing and, after the toy has sunk, automatically increasing in size without further human actuation of the toy to increase` the effective displacement of the toy and cause the toy entirely by its own automatic action to rise again.

i 4. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, buoyancy-producing means carried by said casing and including a collapsible member, and means operable by human agency for compressing said member to lessen the buoyancy of the toy and permit it to sink, said buoyancy-producing means also including means for automatically lsecuring the slow return ofV said member' to its normal shape Without further human actuation of the toy to cause the toy entirely by its own automatic action to rise again.

5. A submersible toy comprising in colnbination a casing, an air tank carried by said casing, a collapsible member also carried by saidV casing and having its interior in communication with the interior of said air tank, means for compressing said member to discharge its contents into the air tank and thus permit the toy to sink, and means for restricting the rate at which the said member returns to its normal shape.

6. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, an air tank carried by said casing, a collapsible rubber chamber in communication with the interior o'l said air tank, means for compressing said chamber' to discharge its contents into the air tank and Athus permit the toy to sink, and means for restricting the rate at which air from the tank flows into said chamber to return the latter to its normal shape, said means including a restricted orifice through which liuid controlling the chamber slowly passes.

7. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, an air tank carried by said casing, a collapsible member also carried by said casing and having its interior in communication with the interior of said airtank through a conduit, a porous plug ntted within said conduit, and means for compressing said collapsible member to discharge its contents into the air tank and thus permit the toy to sink, said plug restricting the rate ofiiow of air from the tank back into the said collapsible member.

8. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, an rair tank carried by -said casing, a collapsible member also carried by said casing and having its interior in communlcatio'nwlth the'lnterior of said air tank through a perforated conduit, a valve 45' for the perforation in said conduit, means for controlling said valve to permit of the passage of airifrom the collapsible member in the air tank but to prevent passage of air in the reverse direction, a chalk plug fitted within said conduit and permitting the'slow passage `of air from the tank back into the collapsible member, and means for compressing the collapsible member to discharge its contents into the air tank.

9. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, buoyancyproducing means carried by said casing, means vfor overcoming thebuoyancy produced thereby and thus permitting the toy to sink, said buoyancy-producing means including, a member carried by the casing and, after the `last named means have operated, automatically changing in size to vary the effective displacement-ofthe toy and cause the toy to rise again, and propelling means for the toy Vbination a which are automatically permitted to operate through said variation in the effective displacement of the toy.

10. A submersible toy comprising in comcasing, buoyancy-producing means carrled by said casing, means for overcoming the buoyancy produced thereby and thus permitting the toy to sink, said buoyancy-producing means including a member carried by the casing and, after the last named means have operated, automatically changing in size to vary the eiective displacement of the toy and cause the toy to rise again, and propelling means for the toy operating automatically as the toy arises again.

l1. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, buoyancy-producing means carried by said casing and including a collapsible member, means for compressing said member to lessen the buoyancy of thevtoy and permit it to sink, means for securing the slow return of said member to its normal shape to cause the toy to rise again, and propelling means :for the toy which are brought into operation as the collapsible member approaches normal shape again.

12. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, means carried by said casing and including a collapsible member, means for compressing said member to lessen the buoyancy of the toy and permit it to sink, means for securing the slow return of said member to its normal shape to cause the toy to rise again, flaps pivoted at the exterior o'f said casing, means tending to partially rotate said flaps, detents for holding said flaps in position against the pull of said last named means, and means for releasing the detents as the toy rises.

13. A submersible toy comprising in combination a casing, buoyancy -producing means carried by said casing and including a collapsible member, means for compressing said member to lessen the buoyancy of the toy and permit it to sink, means for securing the slow return ofv said member to its normal shape to cause the toy to rise again, naps pivoted at the exterior of said casing, means tending to partially rotate said naps, and detents for holding said flaps in position against the pull of said last named means, said collapsible member being adapted to engage the detents and release them as the collapsible member approaches normal shape ao'ain.

14. A submersible toy comprising in combinationacasing, an air tank carried by said casing, a collapsible member also carried by said casing and in communication with the air tank, said casing being open to the inlet of liquid in which the toy is to be submerged but the air tank and collapsible buoyancy producing member being closed against the inlet of such liquid, means for compressing the col-v lapsible member to lessen the buoyancy of the toy and permit it to sink and means for securing the slow return of said collapsible member to its normal shape to cause the toy to rise again.

Vl5. A toy submarine comprising in combination a casing having a main hollow body part of octagonal cross section, and a pointed bow member formed With tapering fiat faces and secured to said body part, buoyancyproducing means carried by said casing,

and means operable by human agency for overcoming the buoyancy produced thereby and thus permitting the toy to sink, said buoyancy-producing means including a member carried by the casing and, after the last named means have operated, automatically changing in size Without further human actuation of the toy to Vary the eifcctive displacement of the toy and cause the toy entirely by its oWn automatic action to rise again.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX I ny signature.

EDWARD MOLLOY. 

